Yes. Imagine if IMSA GT had killed off glorious GTP cars and replaced them with weird mockup versions of the C2 machinery from WSC, in order to close to have more international linkup and cheaper budgets. I reckon by having their own proud product without trying to make unnecessary nods to France, they faired much better. As history shows.
Of course, doing your own thing doesn't always work. Remember when Grand-Am banned internationally succesful SR, GTS and GT/N-GT in favor of their ugly 5 dollar tube frame GTs and DPs... what a success that was
ALMS's direct LM link worked because it was THE ACO championship in it's hayday.